Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and J4 Agri-Science (J4) are excited to announce a new collaboration for faba bean breeding in Saskatchewan. This new collaboration has a commercial focus and will create additional pulse breeding capacity locally in Saskatchewan, increasing competition, and creating a strong environment to foster innovation.
Developing new and better performing varieties of faba beans is the focus of the breeding collaboration. Farmers’ priorities and greatest production challenges are at the forefront of the program, with major areas of focus including low vicine/convicine levels, early maturity, improved yield, and improved disease resistance. Breeding will take place in Saskatchewan for the benefit of Saskatchewan producers.
“SPG is excited about this latest new collaboration on faba bean breeding in Saskatchewan. Faba beans are a promising crop for farmers and offers an alternate pulse crop to extend rotations in certain areas experiencing root rot pressures. Additional new eyes to challenges around maturity, yield, and disease will create competitive varieties for growers” says Winston van Staveren, Chair of SPG Board of Directors.
The J4 faba bean breeding program is based in Saskatchewan, with an office in Saskatoon, main testing site in Northeastern Saskatchewan, and additional selection and testing sites across the Western Canadian prairies. “J4 is passionate in its quest to advance grain farming across the Canadian Prairies. J4 is dedicated to bringing new and desired genetics to Saskatchewan growers in multiple crops, especially in crops that are currently under-served in their development.” notes Jodi Souter, Co-Founder and Breeder with J4. “This new collaboration will stimulate innovation and efficient variety development in Saskatchewan.”
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